KENT COUNTY COUNCIL – RECORD OF OFFICER DECISION

DECISION TAKEN BY: Richard Smith, Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health	DECISION NO: OD/23/00005

For publication

Subject matter: Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service
Cabinet Member or Council/Cabinet decision to which this action relates: 21/00063 - Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (KIDAS) contract extension Decision - 21/00063 - Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (KIDAS) contract extension

Decision: To implement the second two-year extension for the Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (KIDAS) contract (SS 16 041) from 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2026.

Reason(s) for decision: The Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service contract started in 2017 for an initial five years, with two two-year extension options. The first contract extension option has been applied and will expire on 31 March 2024. Applying the second of the two-year contract extensions will allow time for work to be progressed on the development of a new countywide integrated domestic abuse support service from 1 April 2026.
Financial Implications: The annual contract cost of KIDAS is £2,318,345.20, broken down as follows. Aspect of KIDAS Annual contract amount KIDAS core contract (includes accommodation and community-based support) £2,068,345.20 Referral Assessment and Triage element £100,000.00 Training, Education and Awareness element £150,000.00 TOTAL £2,318,345.20 To implement the second two-year extension, the total annual cost to KCC is £2,036,600 (ASCH contribution is £803,305) KCC funding source Cost 2024/25 Cost 2025/26 TOTAL 2024/26 DA Act funding £938,295 £938,295 £1,876,590 Adult Social Care and Health base budget £803,305* £803,305* £1,606,610* Public Health £295,000 £295,000 £590,000 TOTAL £2,036,600 £2,036,600 £4,073,200 *In addition, £89,000 has been agreed from the ASCH base budget to contribute towards the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) model making the total ASCH contribution £892,305 pa) The remainder, £281,745.20 per annum, is met by annual contributions from partners including Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) and District and Borough Councils. The Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) have announced Domestic Abuse Act funding allocations up until March 2025. It is expected that funding post April 2025 will be announced in late 2024. The contract extension terms will stipulate that 2025/26 is dependent on receiving confirmed continuation DA Act funding from DLUHC. Legal implications: The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 means that the council now has statutory duties to provide support to those residing in ‘safe accommodation’. This includes adults and children. Since the contract commenced in 2017 there have been additional services varied into the contract. Legal advice has been sought. From April 2017 – March 2023 the value of changes made under Reg 72 (1) (c) equates to 14.5% of the original contract value and means that there is the opportunity to make further changes to the contract should it be extended. Commissioners will follow the Public Contract Regulations (2015) and Spending the Council’s Money guidance in relation to activity undertaken. Equality Implications: An Equality Impact Assessment is in place for the current service.
Comments received from members consulted: The decision has been discussed and endorsed by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Any alternatives considered and rejected: Do nothing, allowing the KIDAS contract to come to a natural end on 31 March 2024. This would pose risks to the council in terms of meeting its statutory duties under part 4 of the DA Act 2021 and therefore this option has been disregarded. Allow the contract to come to a natural end on 31 March 2024 and recommission a new countywide support service for survivors of domestic abuse and their families residing within safe accommodation only. A high-level impact and equalities impact assessment has been conducted. This option would have a detrimental impact on all areas including survivors, the market, providers and stakeholders including the police, Kent fire and rescue, probation, health, districts and boroughs, social services and safeguarding teams. This option is not preferred. Allow the contract to come to a natural end on 31 March 2024 and recommission a new countywide integrated domestic abuse support service for survivors and their families residing within safe accommodation and in the community. This option will support the council in meeting its statutory duties, allow further development of an integrated approach and continued delivery of the Kent domestic abuse strategy and agenda. This option would cause some disruption to services during the procurement and transition period. Contract cost would increase due to cost of living and inflation since last commissioned in 2017. Activity to support this option will require full stakeholder, survivor and market engagement to refresh service specification, outcomes and KPIs. Public consultation likely required. Full procurement process to be run. (18-24 months total) This option is not preferred.
Any conflict of interest declared by any executive member consulted by the decision maker and any dispensation granted by the Proper Officer: None

Richard Smith,

Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health	5 April 2023

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